Chapter 6

Later that night Jake went out to dinner at the Songbird's Nest, he was hoping that Maria would be there. He missed seeing her even though she had hurt him when they broke off their relationship and she messed with Cody and Sabrina's relationship. She was there sitting at the bar with a drink in front of her. She saw him walking towards her and pushed the drink away.

"Jake, what are you doing here?" Maria was surprised he'd come there.

"What are you doing staring at that drink?" Jake asked back.

"Tempting myself," Maria told him.

"Don't drown your trouble's that way," Jake told her.

"Why do you care, how I drown or if I drown for that matter?" Maria wondered.

"We made a deal once. I'd be there anytime you needed me to keep you from drinking. I'm still willing to keep that deal. All you have to do is call and tell me you need help."

"I didn't think after what happened, you'd want to do that for me."

"I don't want you to hurt yourself that way. You have enough problems, you don't need to be drinking on top of them," Jake told her.

"I didn't know you came here to give a sermon," Maria snapped.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to. Let me take you out of here and we can go talk someplace," Jake suggested.

"Why are you really here, Jake?" Maria was suspicious

"I was hoping that our other arrangement would still be in effect."

"What other arrangement?" Maria asked.

"I was hoping I could be with you tonight," Jake said to her, touching her face.

"After all the mean things you've said to me, you expect me to go to bed with you?"

"Listen, I'm sorry for the way I treated you. Why don't we try to be friends again?" Jake kissed her.

Maria did want someone again. She had been very lonely lately. "Ok. I'm willing to keep the arrangement. I'll go get my things."

Jake and Maria spent the night together when Maria woke up the next morning she thought at first it was all a dream. She looked beside her and Jake was still asleep, she turned over to watch him sleep. She was so happy he had showed up, it was as if he knew, she was thinking about him.

Jake opened his eyes and saw her watching him. "Good morning."

"Good morning." She kissed him. "Thanks for showing up last night. You were right last night. I didn't need that drink, I just needed you."

"I needed someone too. I got a little lonely yesterday after what happened at the tux shop," Jake admitted.

"Tux shop why were you there?" Maria asked.

"Frank and Elaina. I guess you haven't heard, the wedding is back on."

"No. I burnt that bridge of communication a week or so ago," Maria said laying her head on his chest.

"Anyway, we were there getting fitted for our tux and the girls came in. Elaina and Sab were hanging onto Frank and Cody and I didn't have anyone there. Paula kissed me but it didn't mean anything it was all in fun."

"In other words you needed a woman and chose me because of our deal," Maria's character changed right in front of him.

"Pretty much you did insist that we wouldn't have any hold on one another," Jake reminded her.

"I remember." Maria realized she had just been used. "I was a little hopeful that you had forgiven me for my little incident but I take it that's not the case?"

"No. I haven't forgiven you all together. I do care about you. I was helping you get through a rough night and you helped me release some of the tension I was feeling. That's all that happened last night."

"Let me get this straight. You just want me as your whore when ever you feel the need of a woman," Maria said as her anger built.

"If that's how you want to look at yourself, then yes that's what I was saying. How does it feel to be used?" Jake said it in anger but realized he shouldn't have too late to take it back.

"Get out of my bed." She pushed Jake away from her. "I never thought you'd do something like this to me. I thought you cared about me, but you just care about yourself. I have news for you, I have feelings too. But you don't care about my feelings as long as we have sex whenever you want it."

"What's wrong with you? I thought this was your idea anyway? I told you I do care."

"All lies. Leave now, why you still can." Maria threatened him. Jake reached over and forcefully kissed her after putting on his clothes.

"See you around." Jake left the room.

She watched as his car pulled away from the curb. "You bastard. You'll regret using me. So will everyone else pay for what they've done to me," Maria promised.